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Inclined Plane

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<strong>Inclined</strong> <strong>Plane</strong><br />

Student Worksheet<br />

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the/sont des marques de commerce de/son marcas registradas de LEGO Group. ©2009 The LEGO Group.


Student Worksheet<br />

Simple Machines: <strong>Inclined</strong> <strong>Plane</strong><br />

An inclined plane is a slanted surface used to raise objects, e.g. a ramp.<br />

Distance<br />

Height<br />

Did you know<br />

The advantage of using<br />

an inclined plane has<br />

been known and used<br />

for thousands of years.<br />

The ancient Egyptians<br />

used inclined planes<br />

made of earth to ease<br />

the transport of their<br />

giant stone blocks to<br />

the top of the pyramids.<br />

Using an inclined plane to raise an object to a given height, the object must be moved a longer<br />

distance, but with less effort needed, than if the object was to be raise straight up.<br />

It’s a trade-off either to use a lot of effort to raise a given load a short distance straight upwards<br />

or to apply much less force to raise it gradually over the longer distance of an inclined plane.<br />

Common examples of inclined planes are ramps, ladders and stairs.<br />

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the/sont des marques de commerce de/son marcas registradas de LEGO Group. ©2009 The LEGO Group.<br />

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Simple Machines: <strong>Inclined</strong> <strong>Plane</strong><br />

Student Worksheet<br />

The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane<br />

The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane describes the relationship between the length of<br />

the slope and the height of the inclined plane.<br />

The mechanical advantage can be calculated using the following formula:<br />

Mechanical advantage<br />

=<br />

Distance load travels<br />

Height load is lifted<br />

D = 3 m<br />

H = 1 m<br />

Mechanical advantage =<br />

3 m<br />

1 m<br />

Mechanical advantage = 3<br />

Calculating the effort needed to raise a known load can be done using this formula:<br />

Did you know<br />

The mechanical<br />

advantage of straight<br />

vertical lift will always<br />

be 1. Meaning you would<br />

have to raise the entire<br />

load without any kind of<br />

mechanical advantage.<br />

Load<br />

Effort<br />

=<br />

Distance<br />

Height<br />

Calculating the effort needed to move a load is also simple in theory. But in practice friction<br />

between the load and the surface of the ramp can affect the effort forces greatly.<br />

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the/sont des marques de commerce de/son marcas registradas de LEGO Group. ©2009 The LEGO Group.<br />

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Simple Machines: <strong>Inclined</strong> <strong>Plane</strong><br />

Student Worksheet<br />

D1<br />

Build D1 book II, pages 2 to 12<br />

Calculate the mechanical advantage. Then let go of the load.<br />

Explain what happens and why.<br />

Load<br />

Effort<br />

D2<br />

Build D2 book II, pages 13 to 15<br />

Calculate the mechanical advantage. Then let go of the load.<br />

Explain what happens and why.<br />

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the/sont des marques de commerce de/son marcas registradas de LEGO Group. ©2009 The LEGO Group.<br />

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